National Press Club
British American Security Information Council:  “U.S. Elections and the Trans-Atlantic Security Agenda”
Malcolm Savidge, former British Member of Parliament
Joanna Spear, director. George Washington University’s Security Policy Studies Program
David Culp, Friends Committee on National Legislation
Steve Monblatt, co-executive director, BASIC’s Washington office, formerly with
Organization of American States

On Thursday morning, November 9 – two days after the elections in which Democrats gained the majority in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives – the British American Security Information Council (BASIC), where WIP has placed many interns in the past who were interested in intelligence, invited WIP interns to the National Press Club for a panel discussion on “U.S. Elections and the Trans-Atlantic Security Agenda.” Interns enjoyed a light breakfast buffet and heard analysis by Malcolm Savidge, a former British Member of Parliament; Joanna Spear, director of George Washington University’s Security Policy Studies Program; and David Culp of the Friends Committee on National Legislation. Steve Monblatt, BASIC's co-executive director in Washington, moderated the discussion. Monblatt was formerly a counter-terrorism expert with the Organization of American States. In the wake of the Congressional elections, panelists discussed prospects for advancing the trans-Atlantic security agenda. They questioned whether the Bush Administration would be more or less likely to cooperate with Democrats on security issues in the future and if Democrats will use their subpoena power to investigate Administration actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, on behalf of homeland defense, and in the War on Terrorism. Also addressed was the impact of possible hearings within Congress on the upcoming change in leadership within Britain’s Labor Party. The talk took place on the 13th floor of the National Press Club in the Zenger Room.

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